Improvement in wheels of buggy-boats



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. DAVIS.

Buggy-Boat.

Patented July 12, 1859.

V Na Q R Mfnesses:

2 Sheets-Sheet -2.

P. DAVIS.

Buggy-Boat.

Patented July 12, 1859.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERRY DAVIS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEELS OF BUGGY-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,725, dated July 12, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERRY DAVIS, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buggy-Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a sideelevation of the boat mounted on wheels. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one wheel, showing on an enlarged scale the arrangement of paddles upon the spokes.

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in mounting a common row or pleasure boat upon three wheels and arranging upon the spokes of the rear wheels suitable paddles and operating the said wheels when in the water by cranks and belts, so as to propel the boat through the water, and making them serve the double purpose of paddle-wheels and carriage-wheels, as hereinafter fully described and represented.

A represents the boat, which may be of any reasonable length and of any shape, either flat-bottomed or having a keel. The stern of the boat is mounted upon two wheels B, which turn on an axle C, fixed under a stern-board D to the boat. The axle or shaft 0 has pulleys E E on each side of the boat, which pulleys have a lateral play, and are thus operated by levers F F, fixed at a a to the sternboard D, so as to clutch with the hubs of the wheels and operate them as the pulleys are rotat-ed. This rotation of the wheels is accomplished by belts, which pass over the pulleys E E and also over adjustable pulleys E, which have their bearings in two adjustable uprights G G. These pulleys are made adjustable for the purpose of tightening up the belts. The wheels are then rotated by a crank (not shown) connected with the shafts of pulley-wheels F, which may be operated by hand or other power, as may be found most convenient.

In the front of the boat is a third wheel J, having its axial hearings in a vertical shaft, which passes through the eyes e e and receives the piece L, to which the thills are attached by a through-bolt, which can be withdrawn and the thills or shafts detached at pleasure. Between the two eyes 6 e is a cylindrical piece of india-rubber f, which serves the purpose of a spring. The wheel thus arranged is used when the boat is in the water as a rudder.

The foregoing comprises a general description of the construction of my buggy-boat; but the parts herein described may be modified to suit the fancy and convenience of the builder, such modification depending somewhat upon the object for which the boat is desired.

The arranging of propellers or paddles upon the wheels, so as to make them serve the twofold purpose of carriage-wheels upon land and propeller-wheels in the water, constitute my invention. It is desirable in fixing these paddles g upon the wheels to have them capable of being turned upon the spokes which form their bearings, so that they may be closed in a line with the wheel when not in use and that any desired angle may be given to them when used as propellers. These paddles are therefore made in halves, each half being made tapering with a groove on one side. They are then placed upon every other spoke of the wheel anda band cl driven upon them, which keeps them braced together upon the spokes, which are previously rounded off to allow of their turning and at the same time forming shoulders to keep them from slipping out of place.

The boat is provided with seats, and a cov ering of some light material may be used to keep off the sun and rain; but these are only incidental conveniences attending my invention and no part of my claim.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Arranging paddles upon the spokes of the wheels of a buggy-boat, so that the said wheels perform the twofold purpose of paddie-wheels and carriage-wheels, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinabove set forth.

PERRY DAVIS.

Witnesses:

R. D. TRAPHAGEN, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

